Greenwashed

Updated March 4, 2005 12:01 a.m. ET

After an annus horribilis of scandal and misdeed, the British Broadcasting Corporation has just won itself a reprieve. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell announced Wednesday that the Labour government plans to renew the BBC's almost 80-year-old Royal Charter in 2007, allowing the Beeb to continue operating as is for another 10 years.

The folks at Bush House must be thrilled, but British taxpayers -- who'll continue to foot the bill -- could be forgiven for shaking their heads in disbelief. In spite of widely documented...